IPC expects record attendance at Rome meeting

International Poultry Council will adopt policy positions on avian influenza

The International
Poultry Council (IPC) is expecting a record attendance at its first semester
conference in Rome. At the conference, two high-ranking officials with the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the World Organisation for
Animal Health (OIE) will discuss one of the most active seasons in several years
for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Dr. Juan Lubroth,
the FAO’s chief veterinary officer, will give IPC members his perspective on
the challenges of the current avian influenza situation, and OIE Deputy
Director General Dr. Brian Evans will talk about avian influenza-control
strategies and the impact the virus is having on poultry trade.

Increased global
HPAI detections over the past several months are spawning import restrictions
that are wreaking havoc on global trade of poultry meat and breeding stock. Particularly
alarming is the impact on the international shipment of breeding stock, which
is causing supply shortages in some countries and preventing producers from replenishing
their poultry flocks.

Members will also review
the progress of the concept of compartmentalization, developed by the OIE to limit
the impact on trade of influenza restrictions. Marilia Rangel Campos, foreign
markets coordinator at ABPA, the Brazilian animal protein association, will
give a presentation on Brazil’s experiences with compartmentalization.

From the economics
side of the avian influenza issue, Dr. Nan-Dirk Mulder, associate director for
commodities at Rabobank, will talk on the impact of influenza-related bans on
global poultry meat trade.

Following an open
discussion on the situation, members of the IPC will adopt policy positions on avian
influenza.

Other speakers
include Bart Blomme, global category director for meat at the Metro Group AG,
the world’s fifth largest international supermarket chain, whose presentation
will cover global poultry retail, with an emphasis on sustainability; and Carlo
Prevedini, CEO of the Amadori Group, a leading Italian poultry producer and
processor, who will give a report on the Italian industry.

Also, Mark Smith of
Leadership Resource Institute, will lead a discussion of the IPC’s strategic
plan and the organization’s “road map” for the future.

Hosted by Unaitalia,
the Italian meat, poultry and egg association, the meeting will be April 15-17
at the Ambasciatori Palace hotel in Rome. Registration fee is US$600.